[ although described as a fatal DCS event, initial reports state it
was precipitated by 'convulsion' leading to an ascent missing
decompression stops; the Britannic was reported by DAN to be an all
RB dive given preservation requirements of the Greek government to
avoid injury due to bubble percolation from OC -mg]

http://www.timesonl ine.co.uk/ tol/news/ world/europe/ article6359021. ece

A highly respected British diver has died during the exploration of a
shipwreck off the coast of Greece.

Carl Spencer, 37, had been leading a 17-man National Geographic
Society expedition to film Britannic, sister ship of Titanic, off the
island of Kea when he suffered severe decompression sickness (DCS),
also known as the bends, during an emergency ascent to the surface.

The 53,000-ton Britannic, even larger than her famous sibling and
deemed equally "unsinkable" , was lost in 57 minutes after hitting a
mine in 1916, while serving as a hospital ship during the First World War.

The wreck was discovered in 1975 by the French undersea explorer
Jacques Cousteau, but, lying at about 300ft (90m), it pushes divers
to the limits of endurance.

Mr Spencer, a father of two from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire,
led an expedition to Britannic in 2003. He had also taken part in
explorations of Titanic, led by James Cameron, director of the
eponymous film, and Carpathia, which rescued 705 passengers from the
stricken liner in 1912.

He was listed as one of the world's most accomplished divers on the
website Diving with Legends and had participated in decompression research.

Despite his experience, witnesses said that Mr Spencer suffered
convulsions while filming the bow of Britannic on Sunday and headed
rapidly for the surface, missing decompression stops. A military
helicopter flew him to Athens Naval Hospital, where he was pronounced
dead that evening.

The Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said: "Everything was done to save
his life. A fully equipped military Super Puma helicopter was rushed
in to take him to the best possible hospital in Athens and even in
flight every possible method of artificial respiration was tried to
resuscitate him."

Neighbours in Burton upon Trent, where Mr Spencer lived with his
young son and daughter, and wife, Victoria, described the family as
"private, polite, really lovely".

"I know the family was so proud of [Mr Spencer's] diving," one woman said.

Richard Lundgren, a founder member of Global Underwater Explorers who
has spent more time exploring Britannic than almost any other elite
diver, said: "There are very few divers who can dive like Carl did.
He was extremely well respected."

He told The Times that decompressing after diving on Britannic
usually took up to four hours, with one or two hours spent 19ft below
the surface. If a diver surfaces too quickly, dissolved gasses in the
blood or tissue form bubbles that can interfere with blood flow.
There are about 300 cases of decompression sickness every year in
Britain but it is rarely fatal. It can take hours or even days for
sufferers to show any of the associated symptoms, including rashes,
pain in the joints, headaches and paralysis. "For an experienced
diver like Carl to die from DCS is a huge shock," Mr Lundgren added.

Last night a spokesman for the National Geographic Society said:
"National Geographic is profoundly saddened by the death of master
diver Carl Spencer, who died Sunday, May 24 while diving on the
shipwreck Britannic off the coast of Greece as part of National
Geographic television project. The National Geographic team on
location is working with Greek authorities. "

http://www.guardian .co.uk/world/ 2009/may/ 25/diver- titanic-greece- bends